Aluminum Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amides: New Highly Efficient and Remarkably Versatile Catalysts for C - C Bond Formation Reactions.

Superacid-derived aluminum catalysts R(2)AlNTf(2) (2 - 5 mol%) are highly efficient and versatile and are suitable promoters for the allylation and pentadienylation of aldehydes, aldol reactions, aldol cross-coupling of ketones, and Michael additions (several products are shown). Furthermore, they can be converted into chemoselective Lewis acids. Tf=trifluoromethanesulfonyl.